News
Green Building & Eco Friendly News
We are excited to share green building industry developments, news about our Member Companies, and of course current Rate It Green information. Please feel welcome to submit interesting news you have found. Note that Rate It Green does include news announcements as a part of some sponsorship offerings.
You can also learn more by following Rate It Green on social media. We greatly appreciate your likes, follows, and general votes of support.
All Electric Summer: Opportunities to "amp up" your electrification expertise
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s a great time to learn about electrification! Whether you are just learning about today’s energy efficient electric equipment and appliances, or you’re already somewhat expert, there’s really something for everyone to learn or contribute this summer, as several leading green building organizations are hosting some terrific educational offerings. And most are free! Check out Rate It Green's open green building calendar for these and more green bu… Show more
All About Heat Pumps
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
If you feel that recent news has been all about heat pumps, I agree! It seems there's a growing push to educate consumers and increase demand, as part of support for wider electrification and decarbonization efforts. Why are heat pumps so exciting? As you may already know, heat pumps are 300-400% efficient, as they move energy instead of generating it, and without onsite fossil fuel combustion. The numbers seem almost unreal. Heat pumps a… Show more
What Happens In Vegas... (Will We See You There?) Let's Create Some Great Green Building Content!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
I know, the leading image for this email shows some serious wattage and doesn't really make me think first about green building. And yet, suddenly it seems like everyone I know is heading to Vegas next week for the International Builders' Show. That includes Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.! I encourage you to connect with Matt to say hello, or to share your expertise or to introduce your company and what y… Show more
Looking Forward - Engaging Together as a Green Building Community
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Thank you for being a part of our green building community, and welcome to our first newsletter of 2024! With this email, we bring you so much positive energy and a reaffirmation of the spirit of what we do. As Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots said the other day, "The only way we are going to keep progressing toward solutions is to continue the conversation and share.” I wholeheartedly agree!
I am excited to report that I am&n… Show more
Happy New Year, 2024!! Looking back at Top 2023 News, and Some Sneak Previews for 2024!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024!
We expect great things from this new year! Whether you celebrate recent COP28 Results or feel anxious about insufficient progress, perhaps we can agree that 2023 was a year of foundation building and stage setting. We can then think of 2024 then as a year of great framing, where the structure and promising opportunities really come together more rapidly, where we can see tangible gains… Show more
Reframing Perspective: What Can "Positive" (Nature Positive) Look Like?
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst climate change consequences, some of which have already arrived, how is it possible that there are ongoing and disastrous wars and famine, extreme weather crises, raging fires, disease, and areas that are literally becoming uninhabitable for human life, among other global challenges which are hard to fully i… Show more
Making Smart Window Choices for Meeting Comfort, Health, Energy & Sustainability Goals
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate It Green Member questions and also interviewing manufacturers to learn about their energy efficient window and doors as well as the latest technological advances.
Matt recently recorded a series of conversations to answer key window questions, including:
How do you decide when and whether to replace windows? &n… Show more
Understanding The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Introduction and Update
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think we absolutely need to connect and share information online when we can’t be together, I of course believe it’s meaningful and impactful to gather and build community in person. I’ll be attending as I can online, and I’ll hope to ”see you” there!
I have spent a good deal of time in the past weeks &ldq… Show more
Strategies for Staying Cool: Air Sealing and Insulation
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s quite an understatement to say it’s been hot this summer. Playfully, and yet deadly seriously, Vox declared that this scorching summer might just "be one the coolest summers of the rest of your life." Scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service estimate current summer temperatures as not only the hottest since modern record keeping began, but possibly in the last 120,000 years. And summer&rsqu… Show more
The Perfect Wall - Explained
It feels a bit funny to describe a product or practice as "Perfect," but that's our task as we explore "The Perfect Wall." In a recent video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. explains this important concept and also shows how he and his team are applying theory to practice at the #1920sMakeoverATL deep energy retrofit project in Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
As Matt explains, along with fellow Rate It Green Membe… Show more
China, the Largest Importer of Trash, Refused to Continue to Be the Major Dumping Land
For decades, China was the world's largest importer of waste. However, Beijing imposed a ban of 24 types of scraps into the border, effective January 2018.
Before the restriction, China acted as a dumping ground for more than 50 percent of the world’s trash. At its peak, China imported 9 million tons of plastic waste in 2012 (Greenpeace). A recent study published on June 20th in the journal Science Advances found China has taken more than 116 million tons (105 million metric tons) of trash since 1992, the… Show more
A look into the future – Fresno community gets a head start on solar energy homes
California became the first state in the nation to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment buildings starting in 2020. As a part of the overall strategy, California is hoping to offset greenhouse gas emissions with the addition of solar arrays to these new buildings. The end goal for this new mandate is for California’s housing to achieve zero net energy. This means that the total amount of energy used by the building is equal to the total amount of renewable energy created by the building.
The California Energy Co… Show more
How The New Tax Bill Can Help Your Commercial Solar Business Financially
The new tax bill that was implemented this January provided good news for solar businesses and for companies interested in going solar. First, the bill reduced the corporate tax rate of commercial entities that include solar PV systems. Before, solar companies were saving money on operating expenses, but making up for it with a higher tax liability. The new tax bill lowered the federal corporate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent, making solar buildings more profitable for the company.
Additionally, the new tax bill included a revision on the de… Show more
Green Buildings Becomes Mandatory in Ajman, United Arab Emirates as of June 1, 2018
You might know that California became the first state in the United States of America to require all new homes to have solar power starting in 2020. But do you know that Ajman, UAE has required all constructions to go green, effective on June 1?
The policy was announced by the Municipality and Planning Department on Thursday, May 31, 2018. The decision is mandatory as of June 1 for all villas that have not yet obtained permits, or that require maintenance or a change in license.
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid, the chairman of Ajman Mu… Show more
4 Passive House Dorms Planned for Bowdoin's Park Row this Summer
This summer Lavallee Brensinger Architects will help Wright-Ryan Construction’s team build four passive house dorms for the upperclassmen of the college to reside in. 22 students will live in each of the four buildings that stretch over 3.56 acres on the college’s Park Row.
These “passive dorms” are expected to use 50% less energy than traditional construction. The buildings will be connected to the campus central heating plant, while reducing emissions and efficiently using energy. The Passive House construction is … Show more
Dubai is Getting Green-- Dewa Signs Green Building Agreement
In May 2018, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed a contract with Green Business Certification Inc (GCBI).
According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the two organizations will cooperate research and development, training, and promoting green building.
The MoU will support DEWA's efforts to achieve the Demand Side Management Strategy to decrease water and electrical use by 30 percent by 2030 and the Carbon Abatement Strategy to decrease carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2021.
DEWA will follow the Platinum… Show more
California State Senator Kevin de Léon: "100 Percent Clean Energy is Within Reach"
California State Senator Kevin de Leon shared his optimism about renewable energy. Kevin de Leon said, the state’s policy not only turns environmental issue into economics opportunities, but also provide a green place for residents in California, who enjoy higher quality of air, healthier water, and billions savings on bills. Kevin de Leon announced, “All the evidence suggests 100 percent clean energy is within reach.
Under the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, California's goals are far ahead of … Show more
The first LEED platinum certified Ice arena at Bentley University
Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, recently has opened a new LEED certified multipurpose arena. This building is the first of Bentley’s architecture to earn a LEED certification; however, like many other schools across the country, they are trying to continue to implement more aspects of sustainability into the university.
Although there has been a developing trend in both green sport buildings and green colleges, Bentley’s new arena is the first ice arena to earn a platinum certification, the highest rating … Show more
Tesla and South Australia Will Turn 50,000 Homes into the World's Largest Virtual Solar Power Plant
Tesla's Powerball battery in a solar powered home -- Tesla
State of South Australia announced on February 2018 that Tesla and South Australia will turn 50,000 homes into a virtual solar power plant, which will become the world largest virtual power plant. The South Australian government said the project will generate 250 MW of electricity, which is half of the energy produced by a coal-fired power station.
The initial trial has begun equipped with a 5kW solar panel system. Tesla will offer for free its 13… Show more
Here is the Green Apple-- Apple is Now Globally Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy
On April 9, 2018, Apple announced its global facilities are powered by 100 percent clean energy, including offices, data centers, retail stores, and co-located facilities throughout 43 countries in the world such as the United Kingdom, China, and India. In addition, there are nine additional manufacturing suppliers that commit to 100 percent green energy. The company's last milestone was in 2016, 93 percent of its global operations supplied by clean energy. Now Apple achieves a total 23 suppliers commit to sustainable energy.
Currently,… Show more
All Electric Summer: Opportunities to "amp up" your electrification expertise
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s a great time to learn about electrification! Whether you are just learning about today’s energy efficient electric equipment and appliances, or you’re already somewhat expert, there’s really something for everyone to learn or contribute this summer, as several leading green building organizations are hosting some terrific educational offerings. And most are free! Check out Rate It Green's open green building calendar for these and more green bu… Show more
All About Heat Pumps
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
If you feel that recent news has been all about heat pumps, I agree! It seems there's a growing push to educate consumers and increase demand, as part of support for wider electrification and decarbonization efforts. Why are heat pumps so exciting? As you may already know, heat pumps are 300-400% efficient, as they move energy instead of generating it, and without onsite fossil fuel combustion. The numbers seem almost unreal. Heat pumps a… Show more
What Happens In Vegas... (Will We See You There?) Let's Create Some Great Green Building Content!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
I know, the leading image for this email shows some serious wattage and doesn't really make me think first about green building. And yet, suddenly it seems like everyone I know is heading to Vegas next week for the International Builders' Show. That includes Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.! I encourage you to connect with Matt to say hello, or to share your expertise or to introduce your company and what y… Show more
Looking Forward - Engaging Together as a Green Building Community
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Thank you for being a part of our green building community, and welcome to our first newsletter of 2024! With this email, we bring you so much positive energy and a reaffirmation of the spirit of what we do. As Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots said the other day, "The only way we are going to keep progressing toward solutions is to continue the conversation and share.” I wholeheartedly agree!
I am excited to report that I am&n… Show more
Happy New Year, 2024!! Looking back at Top 2023 News, and Some Sneak Previews for 2024!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024!
We expect great things from this new year! Whether you celebrate recent COP28 Results or feel anxious about insufficient progress, perhaps we can agree that 2023 was a year of foundation building and stage setting. We can then think of 2024 then as a year of great framing, where the structure and promising opportunities really come together more rapidly, where we can see tangible gains… Show more
Reframing Perspective: What Can "Positive" (Nature Positive) Look Like?
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst climate change consequences, some of which have already arrived, how is it possible that there are ongoing and disastrous wars and famine, extreme weather crises, raging fires, disease, and areas that are literally becoming uninhabitable for human life, among other global challenges which are hard to fully i… Show more
Making Smart Window Choices for Meeting Comfort, Health, Energy & Sustainability Goals
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate It Green Member questions and also interviewing manufacturers to learn about their energy efficient window and doors as well as the latest technological advances.
Matt recently recorded a series of conversations to answer key window questions, including:
How do you decide when and whether to replace windows? &n… Show more
Understanding The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Introduction and Update
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think we absolutely need to connect and share information online when we can’t be together, I of course believe it’s meaningful and impactful to gather and build community in person. I’ll be attending as I can online, and I’ll hope to ”see you” there!
I have spent a good deal of time in the past weeks &ldq… Show more
Strategies for Staying Cool: Air Sealing and Insulation
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s quite an understatement to say it’s been hot this summer. Playfully, and yet deadly seriously, Vox declared that this scorching summer might just "be one the coolest summers of the rest of your life." Scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service estimate current summer temperatures as not only the hottest since modern record keeping began, but possibly in the last 120,000 years. And summer&rsqu… Show more
The Perfect Wall - Explained
It feels a bit funny to describe a product or practice as "Perfect," but that's our task as we explore "The Perfect Wall." In a recent video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. explains this important concept and also shows how he and his team are applying theory to practice at the #1920sMakeoverATL deep energy retrofit project in Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
As Matt explains, along with fellow Rate It Green Membe… Show more